Reviewed by Craig McPherson
Stars Benjamin Bratt, Andre Braugher, Daniel Dae Kim, Justin Louis, Viola Davis, Christa Miller,
Rick Schroder , Eric McCormack, Ted Whittall | Written by Michael Crichton & Robert Schenkkan
Produced by Ridley and Tony Scott | Certification US NR; UK 15 | RRP US $26.98; UK £19.99
DVD release dates R2 May 19; R1 June 3 | Runtime 177 minutes | Directed by Mikael Salomon
In the 37 years that has elapsed since the 1971 screen adaptation of Michael Chrichton’s novel The Andromeda Strain, movie technology has evolved to the point where the depiction of a grand scale biological plague is considered insignificant on the special effects scale, particularly so when juxtaposed alongside Chrichton’s other cinematic constructs such as dinosaurs (Jurassic Park) and homicidal robots (Westworld — remake scheduled for release in 2009). Unfortunately, after viewing Ridley and Tony Scott’s updating, one could easily conclude that screenwriting hasn’t kept pace with that of 30 years ago.
Created as a two-part miniseries for the American A&E network and directed by cinematographer-turned-director Mikael Salomon, The Andromeda Strain seeks to expand on 1971’s two-hour theatrical version directed by Robert Wise. However, in doing so writer Robert Schenkkan reaches out to political intrigue for filler material with disastrous results. Telling the story of a mysterious all-killing biological agent that hitches a ride to Earth on a moribund orbiting satellite, Chrichton’s story was a masterwork of nascent bio-terror along the lines of 1965’s The Satan Bug. However whereas the 1971 original smartly confined its focus on the detective work undertaken by the scientists in an advanced underground lab, Schenkkan and Salomon seem to feel that the story couldn’t be told without calling upon the superfluous padding of bogus, poorly realised political intrigue, with the end result being akin to someone deciding that a perfectly cut steak just wouldn’t be complete without first being dunked in a bucket of manure.
If you’ve seen any of the countless episodes of Stargate, or the various Star Treks, with their incessant lazy reliance on time travel as a cheap plot device, then you’ll have an idea of the sort of “updating” that’s gone on here. It’s too bad, because while their intentions of reintroducing a new generation to a classic story are noble, the real message that comes through from watching this update is that some things were done right the first time, and are best left alone.
EXTRAS * An audio commentary with Mikael Salomon, David W. Zucker, Tom Thayer and Scott Vickrey; a photo gallery; a design gallery; and a trailer.